"The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible."
— Arthur C. Clarke
When a man is forced to confront the unknown and step far beyond the boundaries of what he once thought possible, it sets the stage for his evolution and the extraordinary challenges ahead.
The Coming-of-Age Ceremony
It was a ceremony held every year, on the same day, where the trials took place.
When humanity entered the towers, they faced a problem: the children and elderly left behind on Earth didn't receive a 'Path' like the adults who entered. For years, humanity tried to find a way for their children to awaken, but nothing worked.
Then, when the first generation of children born inside the towers turned eighteen, they all received a notification:
[Notification: Please reach out to the nearest Awakening Tower to have your Awakening.]
[Description: As long as this notification is active, the Awakening can happen any time before you turn 18.]
-- Further Unlocks --
[Start Awakening (locked)]
The Start Awakening button would only work if the person was inside the tower. Inside, there was an Awakening Room, Trial Rooms, and a teleportation circle.
For those born outside the tower, they needed to clear the trials of every floor before being allowed to live inside. Those born on a floor could teleport in and out of that floor, but still had to clear other floors to climb higher.
Every day, many parties tried to clear the towers.
Soon, Kain and Eren arrived at the nearest tower.
Only the person receiving the awakening could enter the room; the rest had to wait. The tower kept the Awakener's path private unless they chose to reveal it.
As soon as Kain and Eren arrived:
"Kain! Make sure to choose the Combat Path! We need to form a party and hunt together, remember?" said Eren.
They entered the tower and were teleported to an unknown place.
[The Towers of Evolution - Tower Number 02]
[Mr. Kain, are you ready to start your awakening?]
-- Click on this button --
[>> Yes <<]
Kain took a deep breath and replied, "Yes."
The notification disappeared.
The awakening process began. Kain's entire life replayed before him, but something felt missing.
~*~ The Evolution Awakening ~*~
[Your whole life is currently being examined.]
-- Unlocked Paths --
• The Path of Combat
• The Path of Production
• No Unique Path
Unique Paths were rare, given only to those who lived extraordinary lives. Kain sighed and chose the Path of Combat.
[Congratulations on choosing the Path of Combat!]
[Your System Module, 'Combat Mastery System,' is currently being installed...]
-- Current Essence --
• System Installation Progress: 10%...20%...30%...40%...50%...90%...99%...100%
Various weapons floated in the air, ready for selection.
[Error: System Installation Unsuccessful. Unknown Interruption Detected.]
Red notifications appeared, circling Kain.
'System error? What happened? Will I not awaken? But I am 18! Why is this error happening?' System errors were rare, with fewer than ten such cases in all of Terraeth's history.
[The system files are being corrupted by an unknown power.]
-- Current Essence --
• Corruption Progress: 10%...40%...50%...90%...100%
*silence*
[Welcome to The Tower of Evolution Awakening Trials]
-- Unlocked Paths --
• The Path of Production (Locked)
• The Path of Combat (Locked)
• The Path of The Seven Sins (UNIQUE)
"Why are you even showing me the other two paths when you clearly want me to choose the third?" Kain muttered, seeing the other two greyed out.
"Whatever, let's just see what happens. It's not like I have any other option," he thought, clicking on the third path.
[You have chosen the Path of the Seven Sins]
[Your System is already installed in your mind.]
[Awakening your system...]
The background changed to pure black. The floor became a sea of blood, and Kain stood on blood-red rose petals.
A system screen appeared, but before Kain could read it, he fainted.
[The Vampire System - Path of the Seven Sins is now activated.]
-- Kain: Halfling --
• Name: Kain (Halfling)
-- Innate Talents --
• Retain (Unique)
-- Current Essence --
• Race: Human -> Halfling
• Vampire Blood Composition: 99.8%
-- Further Unlocks --
• Forced Quest: Collect blood energy
• Vampire blood is needed for complete system activation
-- The Price --
• Only half of your blood was able to activate due to a lack of 'blood energy.'
[Vampire Mascot and Assistant 'Sanguini' is now installed.]
...
After the awakening, Kain's path was kept hidden. He was teleported outside the Tower of Evolution.
(Currently outside the tower)
"Kain! What happened to you?!" Eren called out. Kain's trial had taken over an hour longer than usual.
As soon as Kain exited, Eren rushed to him. Several people in white cloaks checked on Kain, who was unconscious.
"Doctors! What happened to Kain?!" Eren asked.
"Do not worry, his body is exhausted, and he has fainted from lack of blood. We will deliver him home by ambulance. Do you know his address?" the doctor replied.
"Yes, doctor! I am his friend, we both share the same apartment," Eren said, relieved.
Kain was the only person Eren considered family. They both cherished each other, though they were too shy to admit it.
...
Soon, Kain abruptly opened his eyes, a stinging pain and a heavy head overwhelming him.
"Where...am...I?" he muttered.
After a few seconds, the pain subsided.
Suddenly, he heard a party popper sound as a system screen appeared in front of him.
[(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧]
This is what it showed. Yep—a facial expression, without a face.
"What is this?" asked Kain.
[(///∇///)]
Another expression appeared, and then a ball appeared on the screen, distorting itself whenever a voice came out.
[◎]
[Heehee... Ehm! Are you able to hear me, Mr. Kain? (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧]
A sheepishly cute voice came, as if from a little girl around nine years old.
'So cute!' Kain blushed at this, even though he couldn't see a face—it was already too adorable!
Kain hadn't responded, so the expression changed to confused.
[(´・ω・｀)]
[Is the audio truly not audible, Mr. Kain? (´・ω・｀)]
Another voice came.
Kain composed himself, deciding not to tease the little thing too much.
"Ah, no, you were just too cute—I forgot to respond," said Kain.
[Yay! (o^∀^o)]
It responded.
"By the way, what are you?" asked Kain, this time narrowing his eyes.
It was his first time seeing something like this. There were no records of any sentient being in the system.
[Sorry! My bad hehe.. (･ω<)]
[I am Sanguini, your Assistant, and I can help you with almost anything, as long as it's possible for me. (・ω・)b]
[I was made into your Vampire System to assist you. (＾▽＾)]
[But I can only help you when the system approves it. Otherwise, I am helpless (;´Д｀)]
[If you need anything, make sure to inform me (> <)]
[I am also here for emotional support (> <)]
Kain nodded. At that moment, he received a notification.
-- [System Tutorial Mission] --
[Mission: Eat your last meal like a human]
[Description: A Halfling's taste buds are still somewhat human. Eat your last meal as a human.]
[Mission Rewards:]
[• 100 exp]
"Hmm? What is this?" asked Kain as he looked at the system mission.
[That is a tutorial system mission given to you, Kain ヽ(•ω•ゞ)]
"Oh? Thanks, Sanguini. But what does it mean by eating my last human meal?"
[Oh! You might not know it, but now that you are part of the vampire race, you cannot eat human food. (・_・;)]
"What?! I cannot eat human food?! Then turn me back into a human!"
[That's not possible anymore, Kain. (￣^￣)ゞ]
At that moment, Kain's head felt a bursting pain.
But this time, he received a vision.
He saw himself going to a forest, with people dying all around.
He then saw a woman walking toward the dead body of Eren, along with the other party members.
As she walked, the background behind her turned black and white, as if an ink painting on canvas.
She wore a gothic-style coat, shirt, tie, and a schoolgirl-like skirt. She had white eyes and long black hair.
She looked beautiful, yet otherworldly at the same time.
Kain decided to get a closer look at the woman.
But then...
*creak*
A sound was made.
It came from a pile of dried leaves Kain had just stepped on.
'Oh...shit.'
The girl immediately stopped as she turned her head toward Kain.
A creepy, devil-like smile—pure black—spread across her face as the vision disappeared.
[What is it, Kain? (・ω・?) ]
"HUFF...Huff! Ahh... Fuck! What was that?! Just WHAT WAS THAT?" shouted Kain as he shivered and stumbled over the chairs.
He could not understand what that thing was.
But he knew one thing: it was creepy and...strong.
Yes. Strong.
She felt absolute. Something no one could ever hope to defeat.
...
Still shaken, Kain tried to calm himself. His stomach rumbled, reminding him of the system's tutorial quest.
He made his way to the kitchen and opened the fridge, pulling out some leftovers—rice, vegetables, and a piece of grilled chicken. He sat down and took a bite.
At first, the food tasted normal, but as he continued eating, the flavors became dull and unappetizing. By the last bite, he could barely taste anything at all. He swallowed, feeling a strange sense of loss.
[System Notification: Tutorial Mission Complete! (＾▽＾)]
[You have eaten your last meal as a human.]
[Reward: 100 exp]
[Level Up!]
[You have reached Level 2! (o^∀^o)]
Kain blinked as a warm sensation washed over him, his body feeling slightly stronger and more alert.
[New Quest Unlocked! (☆ω☆)]
[Quest: Drink the blood of a human]
[Description: To complete your transformation into a true vampire, you must drink the blood of a human. Only then will your Vampire System fully awaken.]
[Quest Rewards:]
[• Full Vampire Transformation]
[• Unlock new abilities and your first cardinal sin.]
Kain stared at the new quest prompt, his heart pounding. The path ahead was clear, but far more daunting than before.
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